Managing Call Pickup Permissions

Introduction

The call pickup function allows you to pick up a call ringing on other phones. Although this feature does require some understanding in order to configure correctly and operate as required. This guide will outline the basic requirements that need to be met in order for call pickup to work and explains the different behaviours under certain scenarios.

Note: This guide refers to call pickup using IP Phones (BLF Key or via Dial Code) and not via the 3CX Switchboard screen.

By default, when a call rings on another user's extension you may pick up the call by simply using the dial code configured for “Pickup a call” which can be found in the 3CX Management Console, “Settings → Dial Codes” (*20* by default) or the provided BLF key assigned by the administrator to an IP phone.

Limit Call Pickup to Extension Group

You can also limit call pickups through extension group membership and by editing the global pickup setting. To manage this feature navigate to “Settings → PBX → General Options” section and alter the “Limit Call Pickup to calls received in their extension group” depending on your requirements.

Limit Call Pickup to Extension Group - ON

When this global option is checked calls can only be picked up among extensions that are part of the same extension group providing the options “Can see group members”, “Can see group calls” and “Perform Operations (divert, transfer, pickup)” are checked under the extension’s “Rights” tab.

You may also be part of multiple groups and allow rights to pick up calls to all these groups or just the ones you would like to limit call pickup to. This will affect the way the *20* dial code will work and will also affect any admin assigned BLF keys assigned to the IP Phones.

Limit Call Pickup to Extension Group - OFF (default)

When the global option is not checked then you will be able to pick up calls ringing on other extensions regardless of extension group membership and what is checked under the extensions rights tab. Basically everyone can pick any call in the system at any point by using the dial code *20* from their IP Phone or by the use of a dedicated BLF key assigned by the administrator to the device.

The above image shows an example of a dedicated BLF key assignment.

Note:Snom IP Phones use a different approach to pick up calls. A snom IP Phone will follow the above logic when the Call Pickup Dial Code (by default *20*) is used. However, when a configured BLF key is used, the snom IP Phone will ignore and bypass the restriction to limit the call pickup to the same extension group, when this is in use, and will pick up the call.